Henrietta shrieked aloud, she thought she was lost, but the next moment
the herdsman stood on solid ground and looked up at her with a smile:
"We're all right, you see," he cried. "Oh, I have travelled like this
many a time; it is rare fun,--sledging I call it."
Sledging indeed!--to plunge down a steep mountain side five fathoms deep
with the aid of a juniper bush!
From where they now stood it was an easy matter to convey the lady to
the bottom of the precipice, which was overgrown with bright grass, on
which he deposited her.
"There you are, my lady," said he. "Don't be frightened; I will soon be
back again."
And with that he scrambled up again towards the wedged-in horse.
Henrietta gazed after him in amazement--whatever was he going to do
there?
The fellow, on reaching the wriggling horse, first of all caught firm
hold of its front legs and then tied all four legs tightly together with
the stirrup-straps. Thereupon, he seized the beast by his fettered legs,
pulled them over his shoulders, and with a violent jerk freed the animal
from its uncomfortable position and carried it down into the valley
likewise. There he untied its legs, helped it on to its hoofs again,
and, turning with a smile to Henrietta, said: "A fine horse that; it
would have been a shame to have let it come to grief!"
"And you were able to carry it on your shoulders?" gasped Henrietta.
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